Because someone might be willing to overpay on a count of "recency bias"
I don't think anyone is overpaying for anything. Its got to be as simple as:
Kirk has contract offers from European leagues, likely the Liiga, Maybe the NLA.
Kirk wants to play in North America. He does not have the history or clout to get a North American out-clause in contract negotiations with European leagues.
GMBA is not willing to give him a contract at this point - probably never paid any attention to him outside the World Championships. Nobody in this organization has any history with Kirk. The whole staff has turned over in the last year and a half.
Kirk needs to commit to European offer before time Coyotes Vet camp starts - no chance to earn a North American contract before Liiga starts.
Coyotes doing Kirk a solid by allowing him to see if any other teams will sign him to a contract now.
We won't be getting much more than another unsigned draft pick in a Kirk trade.